Method and apparatus for obtaining soil samples



May 9, 1967 G. R. GLEASON, JR. ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAININGSOIL SAMPLES Filed Feb. 19, 1965 000 0000006 o oo 5 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTORS GALE R. GLEASON JR. FREDERICK J. OHLMACHER fim M find. W

A TTOR/VEYS y 9, 1967 G. R. GLEASON, JR., ETAL 3,318,394

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING SOIL SAMPLES Filed Feb. 19, 1965 5Sheets-Sheet 2 ,84 |O6 FIG-3 86 |Q8 I04 E i ao 22 ,l 48 20 I z 46mvewrons 4o o GALE R.GLEASON JR.

- FREDERICKJDHLMACHER BY 42 a 3 79%, 0

A7 TORNEVS y 9, 1967 G. R. GLEASON, JR., ETAL. 3,318,394

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING SOIL SAMPLES Filed Feb. 19, 1965 3Sheets-Sheet 3 I: I 1 n u I :I :I 1' ll :1 II

INVENTORS GALE R. GLEASON JR. FREDERICK J. OHLNACHER A 7' TORNEVS UnitedStates Patent 3,318,394 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING SOIL SAMPLESGale R. Gleason, Jr., and Frederick J. Ohlmacher, Mount Pleasant, Mich.,assignors to Central Michigan University Board of Trustees, MountPleasant, Mich.

Filed Feb. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 434,048 Claims. (CI. 1755) This inventionrelates to a method and apparatus for obtaining soil samples such assamples of lake bottom soil and the like. Very often in benthonicexploration, it is important to obtain a sample of soil at the bottom ofthe sea or the bottom of inland lakes in such a way that the sample isstratified in the same way as it was stratified in situ. Due to the factthat many of the bottoms that are being explored and tested are somewhatsoft and muddy, it has been extremely difficult to raise a sample to thesurface without disturbing it to the point that stratification was lost.

It is an object of the present invention to permit the recovery ofbenthonic samples without disturbing the contents so that accurateanalysis can be made for whatever purpose the sample is sought.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device which issimple in construction and operation and which can be repeatedly used.

It is a further object to provide a benthonic sampler device which canfreeze the contents of the specimen chamber while in place, permittingthe sample to be raised and transported without disturbing its originalcondition.

Other objects and features of the invention relating to details ofconstruction and operation will be apparent in the following descriptionand claims.

Drawings accompany the disclosure and the various views thereof may bebriefly described as:

FIGURE 1, a view of the device partially in section showing the relativeposition of the parts.

FIGURE 2, a sectional view on line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3, an outside vertical elevation of the device.

FIGURE 4, a detailed, enlarged View of a release mechanism in engagedposition.

FIGURE 5, a view similar to FIGURE 4 showing parts in released position.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the basic structure is formed by a composite tubeformed of a top tube and a bottom tube 22 of the same diameter andaxially aligned. These tubes are joined at their juncture by a collar 24carried by the tube 20 preferably with a brazed joint and telescopingover the bottom of tube 22 in threaded relationship. At the juncture ofthe tubes a radial disc ring 28 is preferably brazed or soldered to thecollar 24 and this disc carries a circular cylindrical gasket 30 havinga flange bolted to the disc 28 by bolts 32 and preferably formed of amaterial which remains flexible at low temperatures.

The disc 23 is clamped at its peripheral edges between the lower end oftube 20 and the top end of tube 22 so that it may be removed forreplacement if necessary. At the bottom of tube 22 is a short tube 34co-axial and aligned with tube 22, this tube being brazed to a collar 36having a threaded relationship with tube 22. Between the lower end oftube 22 and the upper end of the short tube 34 is a sealing assemblysimilar to that previously described having the disc ring 28 held bybolts 32 and a flexible cylindrical gasket member 30 extendingdownwardly in this case rather than upwardly. On the bottom of tube 34is a reducer tube 33 having a reduced section 40. Insertable into theassembly just described is a sampler core tube 42 having its lower endslidably received in and projecting downwardly beyond the reducerportion 40 and having its upper end extending to a point just above thegasket and held in place by a transfixing pin 44 which projects throughdiametrically opposed holes in the tube 20 and the collar 24. The tubehas a snug sliding fit in gaskets 30 which support and center the tubein the assembly.

The tube 42 is thus supported by the reduced portion and by the gaskets30 which form an annular chamber 45 between the gaskets, the tube 22 andthe core tube 42. This chamber is opened at a side port 46 which can beclosed by a suitable stopper 48 and it is the purpose of this chamber tobe filled with pre-chopped /2" cubes of Dry Ice in a quantity ofapproximately 1b., this to be inserted through the loading port 46.

In the upper part of tube 20, there is located a syringe tube 50 whichis composed of a length of copper pipe having caps 52 and 54, the lowercap being supported by a pair of brackets 56 having the upper endaflixed to the cap 54 and the lower end fastened to the inner walls ofthe tube 20 at 58. The bottom cap 54 has a nipple 60 projectingtherefrom and this is connected to a flexible Y tube 62 which branchesat 64 and 66 to project down through openings in disc 28 into thechamber 45 previously described. Within the tube 50 is a piston 70actuated by a piston rod 72 projecting down through an opening in endcap 52. This piston has at the top a cross bracket 74 secured to thepiston rod and a pair of springs 76 anchored at the top on this bracket74 are anchored at the bottom on the support brackets 56.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the tube 20 has side windows 78 which permit easyremoval of the flexible tube 62 so that the syringe tube 50 can befilled through the bottom nipple 60 as the piston is raised against theaction of the tension springs 76. If desired, the tubes 64, 66 can beused to fill but this necessitates dismantling the main assembly.

A U-sha-ped yoke member 80 has depending arms which are bolted to thetop of tube 20 at 82 and the entire assembly is supported by a rope orcable 84 projecting down through a hole in the top 86 of the suspensionmember 80.

Returning to the cross bracket 74 at the top of the piston rod '72, thismember has a central plate portion 88 with side wings 90 extendingtherefrom to anchor the springs 76. Central plate 88 is adapted tocooperate with a latching mechanism mounted at the top of the U member80 and illustrated in detail in FIGURES 4 and 5. This latching mechanismis composed of two jaw members 92 each pivoted on cross rods 94 in thelegs of the member 80 and hinged together at 96. One actuating arm 98extends upwardly to a central point above the hinge 96 and this isprovided with a slotted opening 100 through which passes the bightportion 102 of a U-bolt having legs 104 which pass through the topportion 86 of the U member 80 and which are connected by transverseplate 106 which is urged upwardly by a spring 108. The spring 108 thusurges the jaw members 92 to the latching position shown in FIGURE 4, andit will be seen that a downward pressure on the plate 106 will effect areleasing action of the jaws as shown in FIGURE 5.

This releasing action is obtained by a messenger weight 110 threaded onthe supporting strand 84. When this messenger weight is dropped down thestrand 84, it hits the strike plate 106, forcing the U-bolt 104 downagainst the action of the spring 108 and pivoting the jaws 92 throughthe arm 98 to the open position.

The core tube 42 is preferably about 13" long and formed of copper pipeapproximately 1 /2" in diameter with a sampling area of approximately1.77 sq. in. When the assembly as described is plunged into the bottomof a lake, the material will fill into the tube 42 in pretty much thesame Stratification that it has in situ.

After the core tube has settled to the desired point, the messengerweight 110 is dropped to trigger the release of the piston 70, thusinjecting the acetone, previously loaded into the tube 50, through theplastic tube 62, into the chamber 45. The action of the acetone on theDry Ice will cause rapid freezing of the sam le in the tube 42. Thefreezing time is from to minutes. It can be hastened by using a brassdivider 112 optionally disposed diametrically in the tube '42. The tube22 is preferably insulated by a suitable insulation sleeve or wrapper.For example a /2" thick sheet of plastic foam 120 is wrapped around tube22 as shown in the drawings and taped in place. After the freezing time,the device may be hauled upwardly and the sampler tube 42 removedpreferably after removal of the core 48." The tube can be slightly warmto free the sample which canbe pushed out by a wooden rod and the samplecan then be wrapped in aluminum foil and stored in a Dry Ice container.These samples can, accordingly, be used .for any biological orgeological purpose desired.

'Itwill be seen from the above description that repeated samples can beobtained by following the described procedures.

We claim:

1. A sampler device for use in benthonic exploration and the like whichcomprises,

(a) an open-ended sampler tube adapted to be plunged into soil to besampled,

(b) a mounting means for said tube comprising a a jacket for supportingsaid tube therein to provide a refrigerant chamber around said tube,

(c) means in said jacket to permit the introduction of refrigerant fromthe outside of said jacket,

(d) a second means for storing a supply of refrigerant adjacent saidjacket comprising a piston and cylinder arrangement,

(e) means for cocking said piston against a resilient force in aposition poised to drive refrigerant into said jacket, and

(f) releasing means for tripping said cocking means to release .saidpiston.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said releasing means can betripped by a messenger weight dropped from a remote control positionabove said device.

3.'A device as defined in claim 1 in which the jacket includes axiallyspaced gasket members adapted to receive said tube and seal the spaceWithin said jacket around said tube.

4.'A sampler tube for use in benthonic exploration and the like whichcomprises,

(a) a straight cylindrical sampler tube adapted to be plunged into soilto be sampled,

(b) a mounting means for said tube comprising a tubular jacket forreceiving said tube concentrically therein,

(c) means in said jacket to seal a chamber around said tube andsimultaneously support said tube within said jacket,

(d) releasable means for locking said tube in said jackets,

(e) a piston and cylinder assembly adjacent said jacket having a tubularconnection with the interior of said jacket whereby liquid refrigerantmaybe injected from said cylinder by said piston into said jacket,

(f) latch means for cocking said piston against a resilient force in aposition poised for injection of refrigerant,

(g) means for supporting said assembly from above for remotecontrolthereof, and

(h) a messenger weight on said supporting means adapted by gravity todrop to said device and trip said latching means whereby to causeinjection of refrigerant into said chamber.,

5. A sampler tube as defined in claim 4 in which said jacket has anaxial extension to receive and support said piston and cylinderassembly, said extension being open at portions thereof to permit accessto said assembly for reloading and cocking.

6. A sampler device for use in benthonic exploration and the like whichcomprises,

(a) an open-ended sampler tube adapted to be plunged into soil to besampled,

(b) mounting means for carrying said tube shaped to provide a chamberaround said tube throughout a portion of its length, said chamber beingadapted to receive a refrigerant, and

(c) means for hoisting and lowering said tube and mounting means from acontrol position,

(d) means to store a supply of liquid refrigerant in communication withsaid chamber, and

(e) control means selectively operable for release of said refrigerantto introduce said supply of refrigerant into said chamber after thesampler tube has reached a sampling position.

7. A device as defined in claim 6 in which the supply of refrigerant ispositioned adjacent said chamber to lower and raise with said chamber,and said control means is remotely operable to release refrigerant intosaid chamber.

8. A sampler device for use in benthoic exploration and the like whichcomprises,

(a) a sampler tube adapted to be plunged into soil to be sampled,

(b) a container adjacent said tube for receiving particles of arefrigerant such as solid carbon dioxide,

(c) means for storing a quantity of liquid refrigerant,

(d) and injection means for injecting said refrigerant from said storagemeans into an area adjacent said tube occupied by said solid carbondioxide to accelerate the creation of a freezing temperature around saidtube whereby a cylinder of stratified soil in situ can be introducedinto said tube and solidified prior to removal for examination andanalysis.

9. A device as defined in claim 8 in which said means for storingrefrigerant is arranged in communication with said tube, and said meansfor injecting said refrigerant is movable from a storage position in aninjection stroke, and releasable means for latching said injection meansin a storage position, and means controllable remotely from said devicefor releasing said releasable means to permit the injection ofrefrigerant.

10. The method of collecting benthonic samples and the like in which asampler tube and coolant jacket is plunged into soil to be sampledcharacterized by the steps of:

(a) providing a supply of liquid coolant in communication with thecoolant jacket,

(b) lowering the sampler tube and jacket into the soil to be sampled,and

(c) dumping the liquid coolant into the jacket subsequent to thepositioning in the soil to be sampled.

No. 4 page 758, October 1958.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

R. E. FAVREAU, Assistant Examiner.

1. A SAMPLER DEVICE FOR USE IN BENTHONIC EXPLORATION AND THE LIKE WHICHCOMPRISES, (A) AN OPEN-ENDED SAMPLER TUBE ADAPTED TO BE PLUNGED INTOSOIL TO BE SAMPLED, (B) A MOUNTING MEANS FOR SAID TUBE COMPRISING A AJACKET FOR SUPPORTING SAID TUBE THEREIN TO PROVIDE A REFRIGERANT CHAMBERAROUND SAID TUBE, (C) MEANS IN SAID JACKET TO PERMIT THE INTRODUCTION OFREFRIGERANT FROM THE OUTSIDE OF SAID JACKET, (D) A SECOND MEANS FORSTORING A SUPPLY OF REFRIGERANT ADJACENT SAID JACKET COMPRISING A PISTONAND CYLINDER ARRANGEMENT, (E) MEANS FOR COCKING SAID PISTON AGAINST ARESILIENT FORCE IN A POSITION POISED TO DRIVE REFRIGERANT INTO SAIDJACKET, AND (F) RELEASING MEANS FOR TRIPPING SAID COCKING MEANS TORELEASE SAID PISTON.